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Location: Texas | If cattle can't reproduce or be sold for slaughter they aren't worth a dime. IF the calf were to stand up, nerve damage will prevent her from safely having a calf or mainting weight for slaughter.
The calf should be put down or taken to a dog food packing plant and killed. |
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 Toastest with the Mostest
Posts: 5712
 
Location: That part of Texas | I think everybody else has pretty much said what I would have in way of advice. I just wanted to post and send you some "good luck" vibes in the way of trying to convince her to put the calf down. You're definitely in a tough position.  |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | You have a good heart and its so nice of you wanting to help out, but the owner needs to realize this calf is not going to get better, its time to let go and put it down. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1100
Location: Southeastern Idaho | If she were one of ours, we would put her down. Her quality of life as she is isn't great, and the bed sores really concern me that she will not improve. We would put her down. Its tough owning animals for sure. I hate this part of it. |
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 Certified Snake Wrangler
Posts: 1672
Location: North MS | I'm on the opposite end of the spectrum- we had a mature jersey cow go down after calving and she was down almost a month. We lifted her with tractor and rotated (her job was to raise orphans I got at a sale barn when I was young). Well she actually had an imbalance of nutrients of some sort. We started a CMPK supplement and the day before the FINAL day, she got up and lived and raised calves until 6 years ago. She passed away last year of old age- 23 years old. Buttercup was a heck of a cow though. BTW- she was under vet care and did develop some sores, but fully recovered. For this situation- I guess it depends on where the nerve damage is.
Edited by bluerose2001 2015-03-24 9:53 PM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 307
Location: Florida | Is anyone flipping her? She won't be able to stand back up ever, with all the pressure from her body weight not being distributed evenly & with her not standing circulation doesn't flow into her legs right. On the ranch if we have an older calf down (rare), we usually put them in a sling in the chute to keep them upright, feeding/watering, etc. and if they don't at least START to come back within a few hours, (in which case we keep nursing them until health starts to decline again), we don't keep them alive through that day. It is no quality of life for the animal.
We make the sling out of 2 saddle girths & rope ( I know, redneck McGyver as heck, but it works!)
Have there been any x-rays done? She may not be able to stand due to a fracture somewhere. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1898
| bluerose2001 - 2015-03-24 9:52 PM
I'm on the opposite end of the spectrum- we had a mature jersey cow go down after calving and she was down almost a month. We lifted her with tractor and rotated (her job was to raise orphans I got at a sale barn when I was young). Well she actually had an imbalance of nutrients of some sort. We started a CMPK supplement and the day before the FINAL day, she got up and lived and raised calves until 6 years ago. She passed away last year of old age- 23 years old. Buttercup was a heck of a cow though. BTW- she was under vet care and did develop some sores, but fully recovered. For this situation- I guess it depends on where the nerve damage is.
Milk fever and nerve damage are on a total different spectrum. Milk fever can be treated with medication where as there is not much that can be done with nerve damage that isn't incredibly costly.
Edited by cyount2009 2015-03-25 12:55 PM
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 999
Location: Sunny So Cal | Just here to send prayers and support! Everyone here knows what is right and that you have the calfs best interest in mind.  |
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 Go Your Own Way
Posts: 4947
Location: SE KS | CMPK will not save her. That is for when they are pregnant, and nursing.
Sounds to me the calf needs to be put to sleep.
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 Veteran
Posts: 129
Location: South | Sounds like a really bad situation all together. If the heifer has been down for nearly a month, more than likely she will not get up. We have had several, like people have previously posted have calves and struggle to get up. The key is to use a tractor to get them up as soon as possible, and spend time each day lifting them. They gradually begin to build back up their strength and get up. However in your situation it doesn't sound as positive.
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